Horse meat has found its way into ready-to-eat meals sold across Europe in a meat mislabeling scandal that has shaken the food industry.

The world's biggest food and drinks maker said in a statement that the level of horse DNA in its Buitoni Beef Ravioli and Beef Tortellini meals was above the 1 percent threshold that the U.K. Food Safety Agency uses to indicate likely adulteration or gross negligence.

Nestle said the contaminated beef was supplied by H.J. Schypke, a German company, used by one of Nestle's suppliers.

Nestle also withdrew from sale frozen meat sold as Lasagnes Ã la Bolognaise Gourmandes to catering businesses in France.